(Ninth Parliament - First Session)

No.12.] MINUTES OF PARLIAMENT

Friday, September 25, 2020 at 10.00 a.m.

PRESENT :

Hon. Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana, Speaker

Hon. , Minister of Environment Hon. , Minister of Power Hon. , Minister of Foreign and Leader of the House of Parliament Hon. (Dr.) Bandula Gunawardana, Minister of Trade Hon. , Minister of Fisheries Hon. , Minister of Highways and Chief Government Whip Hon. , Minister of Tourism Hon. , Minister of Mass Media Hon. Chamal , Minister of Irrigation and State Minister of Internal Security, Home Affairs and Disaster Management Hon. , Minister of Transport Hon. , Minister of Industries Hon. M .U. M. Ali Sabry, Minister of Justice

Hon. (Dr.) (Mrs.) , State Minister of Skills Development, Vocational Education, Research and Innovation Hon. , State Minister of Co-operative Services, Marketing Development and Consumer Protection Hon. , State Minister of Money & Capital Market and State Enterprise Reforms Hon. D. V. Chanaka, State Minister of Aviation and Export Zones Development Hon. , State Minister of Tanks, Reservoirs and Irrigation Development related to Rural Paddy Fields Hon. , State Minister of Foreign Employment Promotion and Market Diversification Hon. , State Minister of Batik, Handloom and Local Apparel Products

( 2 ) M. No. 12 Hon. , State Minister of Rural and Divisional Drinking Water Supply Projects Development Hon. (Dr.) (Mrs.) Sudarshini Fernandopulle, State Minister of Prison Reforms & Prisoners' Rehabilitation Hon. , State Minister of Education Reforms, Open Universities and Distance Learning Promotion Hon. , State Minister of Paddy and Grains, Organic Food, Vegetables, Fruits, Chillies, Onion and Potato Cultivation Promotion, Seed Production and Advanced Technology Agriculture Hon. , State Minister of Rural Roads and other Infrastructure Hon. , State Minister of Development of Minor Crops including Sugarcane, Maize, Cashew, Pepper, Cinnamon, Cloves, Betel Related Industries and Export Promotion Hon. Vidura Wikramanayaka, State Minister of National Heritage, Performing Arts and Rural Arts Promotion Hon. S. Viyalanderan, State Minister of Postal Services and Professional Development of Journalists Hon. (Dr.) Sarath Weerasekera, State Minister of Provincial Councils & Local Government Hon. , State Minister of Warehouse Facilities, Container Yards, Port Supply Facilities and Boats and Shipping Industry Development

Hon. Selvam Adaikkalanathan Hon. A. L. M. Athaullah Hon. Amarakeerthi Athukorala Hon. Kapila Athukorala Hon. Sampath Athukorala Hon. Hon. Hon. Ashok Abeysinghe Hon. (Dr.) (Ms.) Hon. Amarasena Hon. Mayadunna Chinthaka Amal Hon. Thavaraja Kalai Arasan Hon. U. K. Sumith Udukumbura Hon. (Major) Pradeep Undugoda Hon. Sanjeeva Edirimanna Hon. Akila Ellawala Hon. Govindan Karunakaram Hon. Gayantha Karunatilleka Hon. Hon. Faizal Cassim ( 3 ) M. No. 12 Hon. Hon. Hon. Udayana Kirindigoda Hon. Hon. Gevindu Cumaratunga Hon. K. P. S. Kumarasiri Hon. A. Aravindh Kumar Hon. Velu Kumar Hon. Karunadasa Kodithuwakku Hon. (Dr.) Upul Galappaththi Hon. Udayakantha Gunathilaka Hon. (Mrs.) Kokila Gunawardene Hon. Yadamini Gunawardena Hon. Sivanesathurai Santhirakanthan Hon. Milan Jayathilake Hon. Jayamaha Hon. (Dr.) Kavinda Heshan Jayawardhana Hon. Hon. Kulasingam Dhileeban Hon. M. S. Thowfeek Hon. (Dr.) Hon. Anura Dissanayaka Hon. (Mrs.) Hon. Hon. Sarathi Dushmantha Hon. Premnath C. Dolawatte Hon. W. H. M. Dharmasena Hon. H. Nandasena Hon. Gayashan Nawananda Hon. Asanka Navarathna Hon. Hon. Hon. S. Noharathalingam Hon. Anupa Pasqual Hon. Nimal Piyathissa Hon. Hon. Hon. Sujith Perera Hon. Hon. (Mrs.) Muditha Prishanthi Hon. Uddika Premarathne Hon. R. M. ( 4 ) M. No. 12 Hon. Shantha Bandara Hon. Sudath Manjula Hon. Imran Maharoof Hon. Hon. S. M. M. Muszhaaraff Hon. Mohomad Muzammil Hon. Anura Priyadharshana Yapa Hon. B. Y. G. Rathnasekara Hon. Kumarasiri Rathnayaka Hon. Ali Sabri Raheem Hon. Hon. Mujibur Rahuman Hon. Hon. Hon. Upul Mahendra Rajapaksha Hon. (Dr.) V. Radhakrishnan Hon. M. Rameshwaran Hon. Hon. (Mrs.) Hon. Hon. M. W. D. Sahan Pradeep Withana Hon. Madhura Withanage Hon. Hesha Withanage Hon. , PC Hon. Weerasumana Weerasinghe Hon. Hon. Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan Hon. Dharmalingam Sithadthan Hon. M. A. Sumanthiran Hon. Hon. (Dr.) Rajitha Senarathne Hon. Hon. Hon. H. M. M. Harees Hon. Hon. Samanpriya Herath Hon. Marjan Faleel

Mr. Dhammika Dasanayake, Secretary-General of Parliament Mr. Neil Iddawala, Chief of Staff and Deputy Secretary-General of Parliament

Mr. Tikiri K. Jayathilake, Assistant Secretary-General ( 5 ) M. No. 12 Parliament met pursuant to adjournment. The Speaker took the Chair.

1. Messages from the President : The Speaker read the following message received from the President:—

( 6 ) M. No. 12 2. Announcements by the Speaker : The Speaker made the following announcements:— I “I wish to inform Parliament that I have received copies of nine petitions filed at the Supreme Court in terms of Article 121(1) of the Constitution in respect of the Bill entitled ‘Twentieth Amendment to the Constitution’, in addition to the receipt of a petition mentioned in the announcement made by me on 24th September 2020”

II “I wish to inform Parliament that the following Members have been nominated by the Committee of Selection, to serve in the Committee on Public Petitions, in terms of the provisions of Standing Order 122(1) of the Parliament and the motion agreed to by Parliament on 28th August 2020:— Hon. Kumara Welgama Hon. Waruna Liyanage Hon. S. M. M. Muszhaaraff ”

III “I wish to inform Parliament that the following Members have been nominated, with Chief Government Whip as the Chair and the Chief Opposition Whip, by the Committee of Selection to serve in the Backbencher Committee during the First Session of the Ninth Parliament in terms of the provisions of Standing Order 126(1) and (2) of the Parliament and the motion agreed to by Parliament on 28th August 2020:— Hon. S. Noharathalingam Hon. Selvarajah Kajendren Hon. Kapila Athukorala Hon. M. Udayakumar Hon. Sanjeeva Edirimanna Hon. Karunadasa Kodithuwakku Hon. Nalaka Bandara Kottegoda Hon. (Major) Hon. W. H. M. Dharmasena Hon. Kins Nelson Hon. Hon. S. M. M. Muszhaaraff Hon. Kumarasiri Rathnayaka Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam Hon. D. Weerasingha Hon. (Mrs.) Manjula Dissanayake”

( 7 ) M. No. 12 IV “I wish to inform that the following Members have also been nominated by the Committee of Selection to serve in the Ministerial Consultative Committees during the First Session of the Ninth Parliament in terms of the provisions of Standing Order 112 of the Parliament and the motion agreed to by Parliament on 08th September 2020:— 1. Ministerial Consultative Committee on Defence Hon. Anura Dissanayaka Hon. Field Marshal

2. Ministerial Consultative Committee on Finance Hon. Patali Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva

3. Ministerial Consultative Committee on Buddhasasana, Religious & Cultural Affairs Hon. Hon. S. M. M. Muszhaaraff

4. Ministerial Consultative Committee on Urban Development & Housing Hon. Hon. Mujibur Rahuman

5. Ministerial Consultative Committee on Justice Hon. G. G. Ponnambalam Hon. C.V. Wigneswaran

6. Ministerial Consultative Committee on Foreign Hon. (Dr.) Kavinda Heshan Jayawardhana Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam

7. Ministerial Consultative Committee on Public Services, Provincial Councils & Local Government Hon. J. C. Alawathuwala Hon. Naseer Ahamed

8. Ministerial Consultative Committee on Education Hon. Charles Nirmalanathan Hon. (Dr.) (Ms.) Harini Amarasuriya

9. Ministerial Consultative Committee on Health Hon. (Dr.) Rajitha Senarathne Hon. Abdul Haleem ( 8 ) M. No. 12 10. Ministerial Consultative Committee on Labour Hon. Vadivel Suresh Hon. Velu Kumar

11. Ministerial Consultative Committee on Environment Hon. Hon. Kins Nelson

12. Ministerial Consultative Committee on Wildlife & Forest Conservation Hon. Thushara Indunil Amarasena Hon. (Mrs.) Rohini Kumari Wijerathna

13. Ministerial Consultative Committee on Agriculture Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan Hon. Ishak Rahuman

14. Ministerial Consultative Committee on Irrigation Hon. Faizal Cassim Hon. M. S. Thowfeek

15. Ministerial Consultative Committee on Lands Hon. Gayantha Karunatilleka Hon. Selvam Adaikkalanathan

16. Ministerial Consultative Committee on Fisheries Hon. Vijitha Herath Hon. Dilip Wedaarachchi

17. Ministerial Consultative Committee on Plantation Hon. Palani Thigambaram Hon. Hector Appuhamy

18. Ministerial Consultative Committee on Water Supply Hon. Rauff Hakeem Hon. W. H. M. Dharmasena

19. Ministerial Consultative Committee on Power Hon. H. M. M. Harees Hon. Ali Sabri Raheem ( 9 ) M. No. 12

20. Ministerial Consultative Committee on Energy Hon. Nalin Bandara Jayamaha Hon. Hesha Withanage

21. Ministerial Consultative Committee on Ports & Shipping Hon. Tissa Attanayake Hon. Sujith Perera

22. Ministerial Consultative Committee on Highways Hon. Kabir Hashim Hon. (Dr.) V. Radhakrishnan

23. Ministerial Consultative Committee on Transport Hon. Kumara Welgama Hon. Ashok Abeysinghe

24. Ministerial Consultative Committee on Youth & Sports Hon. S. M. Marikkar Hon.

25. Ministerial Consultative Committee on Tourism Hon. M. Udayakumar Hon. (Mrs.)

26. Ministerial Consultative Committee on Trade Hon. Niroshan Perera Hon. Dharmalingam Sithadthan

27. Ministerial Consultative Committee on Industries Hon. Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri

28. Ministerial Consultative Committee on Mass Media Hon. Imthiaz Bakeer Markar Hon. Manusha Nanayakkara”

3. Presentation of Papers : (1) The Speaker presented the— (i) Performance Report of the Finance Commission for the period (01.01.2019 - 31.12.2019) of 2019 in terms of Article 41B(6) of the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of ; and ( 10 ) M. No. 12

(ii) Performance Reports of the Audit Service Commission for the Fourth quarter (01.10.2019 - 31.12.2019) of 2019 and First quarter (01.01.2020 - 31.03.2020) of 2020 in terms of Articles 41B(6) and 153H of the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. Ordered that the said Reports do lie upon the Table.

(2) The Minister of Highways presented the Regulations made by the Minister of Finance, Economic and Policy Development under Section 20 read with Sections 4(3) and 14 of the Imports and Exports (Control) Act, No. 1 of 1969 as amended by the Acts, No. 48 of 1985 and No. 28 of 1987, published in the Extraordinary Gazettes No. 2171/5 of 16th April 2020, No. 2176/19 of 22nd May 2020, No. 2182/10 of 30th June 2020 and No. 2184/21 of 16th July 2020. Ordered that the said Papers do lie upon the Table.

(3) The Minister of Highways presented the Report on the submission of observations and steps taken in terms of the Standing Order 119(4) of the Parliament with regard to the matters mentioned on the National Procurement Commission in the report of the Committee on Public Accounts which was presented to Parliament and moved that the Report be referred to the Committee on Public Accounts. Ordered that the said Report do lie upon the Table.

(4) The Minister of Irrigation and State Minister of Internal Security, Home Affairs and Disaster Management presented the Annual Performance Report of the Irrigation Sector of the Ministry of Mahaweli, Agriculture, Irrigation and Rural Development for the year 2019. Ordered that the said Report do lie upon the Table.

(5) The Minister of Highways presented the— (i) Annual Performance Report of the Vocational Training & Skills Development Division of the Ministry of Industry & Commerce, Resettlement of Protracted Displaced Persons, Co-operative Development and Vocational Training & Skills Development for the year 2019; and (ii) Annual Performance Report of the Department of Probation and Child Care Services for the year 2019. Ordered that the said Reports do lie upon the Table.

(6) The Minister of Highways presented the Performance Report of the Land Use Policy Planning Department for the year 2019. Ordered that the said Report do lie upon the Table.

(7) The Minister of Highways presented the Annual Performance Report of the City Planning and Water Supply Division of the Ministry of City Planning, Water Supply and Higher Education for the year 2019. Ordered that the said Report do lie upon the Table. ( 11 ) M. No. 12 4. Presentation of Public Petitions : (1) Hon. Jayantha Samaraweera presented — (i) a petition dated 22.08.2020 from Mr. I. C. Perera of No. 372 A, Diganathuduwa, Alubomulla, Panadura; and (ii) a petition dated 22.08.2020 from Mr. S. M. W. Pathiratne of No. 170 A, Dediyawala, Waskaduwa. (2) Hon. Sarathi Dushmantha presented — (i) a petition dated 21.08.2020 from Mr. W. M. K. Jayawardene of No. 162/121/18, Nilmini Uyana, Madola, Avissawella; and (ii) a petition dated 21.08.2020 from Mr. W. M. Y. S. K. Jayawardene of No. 162/121/18, Nilmini Uyana, Madola, Avissawella. (3) Hon. Nimal Piyathissa presented a petition dated 21.08.2020 from Mr. R. M. L. W. Anurudda Labuthala of “Asiri”, Ladupita, Padiyapelella. The Petitions stood referred under Standing Order 30(10) of the Parliament, to the Committee on Public Petitions.

5. Votes of Condolence : The Minister of Foreign moved the Vote of Condolence on the late Hon. R. M. K. B. Ratnayake, ex-Member of Parliament.

The State Minister of Rural Roads and other Infrastructure moved,— That Hon. Weerasumana Weerasinghe do take the Chair. Question put, and agreed to. (At 11.19 a.m. Hon. Weerasumana Weerasinghe took the Chair.)

Hon. Weerasumana Weerasinghe announced that the Speaker and himself associated together with the sentiments expressed by both sides of the Parliament on the death of Hon. R. M. K. B. Ratnayake, ex-Member of Parliament and directed the Secretary- General of Parliament to send a copy of the Official Report (Hansard) containing proceedings of this day to the members of his bereaved family.

6. Adjournment : The Minister of Highways moved,— That this Parliament do now adjourn.

Question put, and agreed to; Parliament was at 11.59 a.m. adjourned by the Presiding Member until 10.00 a.m. on Tuesday, October 06, 2020.